How does Exodus 9:35 connect to Romans 9:17-18 about God's sovereignty? Setting the Stage in Exodus Exodus 9 recounts the seventh plague—hail. Verse 35 summarizes the result: “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.” (Exodus 9:35) Key observations: • The hardening happens “just as the LORD had spoken,” echoing earlier predictions (Exodus 4:21; 7:3). • God’s word determines the course of events; Pharaoh’s stubbornness is not a surprise twist but the fulfillment of divine declaration. Paul’s Commentary in Romans Romans 9:17-18 directly quotes the Exodus account: “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.” Paul’s flow of thought: • God “raised up” Pharaoh—established him on Egypt’s throne at that moment in history. • Purpose: display divine power and spread God’s fame worldwide. • Sovereign prerogative: mercy and hardening alike proceed from God’s will. Connecting the Two Passages • Exodus 9:35 is the historical snapshot; Romans 9:17-18 is the Spirit-inspired commentary. • The hardening recorded in Exodus becomes theology in Romans: God’s sovereign right to direct human hearts. • What appears as Pharaoh’s personal obstinacy is simultaneously God’s deliberate action—He “hardens whom He wants to harden.” • Both texts affirm a single storyline: God’s promises stand (Exodus 9:35 “just as the LORD had spoken”) and His power is showcased (Romans 9:17 “display My power in you”). The Pattern of Divine Sovereignty Scripture supports the theme that God rules over human decisions: • Proverbs 21:1 — “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” • Daniel 4:35 — “He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.” • Psalm 115:3 — “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.” • Ephesians 1:11 — “[He] works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Why the Hardening Matters • Demonstrates God’s faithfulness: He kept His word to Moses. • Magnifies God’s glory: each plague revealed His superiority over Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). • Preserves Israel’s redemption story: the exodus foreshadows Christ’s ultimate deliverance (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Establishes a pattern of mercy: as God hardened Pharaoh, He simultaneously showed mercy to Israel—highlighting the distinction Paul stresses in Romans. Implications for Believers Today • Trust God’s sovereign hand in world events, even when rulers oppose His purposes. • Marvel at grace: if God’s mercy is sovereign, our salvation is secure (Romans 9:23). • Respond in humility: recognizing God’s control eliminates boasting (1 Corinthians 1:31). • Proclaim His name: the same purpose God had with Pharaoh—worldwide proclamation—continues through the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). |
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